India’s Rishabh Pant and Rohit Sharma have made gains in the latest released ICC Test batting rankings, holding the sixth position alongside New Zealand’s Henry Nicholls with 747 points each.
Skipper Virat Kohli (814 rating points) is another Indian to feature in the top 10, occupying the fifth slot in the list, which is being headed by New Zealand captain Kane Williamson (919 rating points).
Australia’s star batsman Steve Smith (891 rating points) is placed in the second spot followed by compatriot Marnus Labuschagne (878 rating points) and England skipper Joe Root (831 rating points).
Pakistan captain Babar Azam (736 rating points) and Australia’s David Warner (724 rating points) also appear in the chart to complete the top 10.
Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne has closed in on a top-10 spot in the Test batting rankings after his team’s 209-run victory over Bangladesh in the second Test at Kandy. The left-handed opener hit 118 and 66, advancing four slots to attain the 11th position.
Niroshan Dickwella (up four places to 31st), Oshada Fernando (up 10 places to 58th) and Lahiru Thirimanne (up 13 places to 60th) are the other Sri Lanka batsmen to gain slots while left-arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama’s player of the match haul of 11 for 178, the best figures by a Sri Lankan on Test debut, sees him enter the rankings in 48th position.
Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal’s knocks of 92 and 24 have helped him grow three places to attain 27th position while Mushfiqur Rahim and captain Mominul Haque have moved up a slot each to reach 21st and 30th positions, respectively.
The updated rankings also take into account the first Test between Zimbabwe and Pakistan in Harare, which the visitors won by an innings and 116 runs.
Pakistan pacer Hasan Ali’s figures of 9 for 89 in the series opener enabled him to gain 15 slots and reach a career-best 20th position among bowlers.
Left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Afridi (up two places to 31st) and left-arm spinner Nauman Ali (up 12 places to 54th) have also advanced in the list for bowlers while left-handed batsman Fawad Alam continues his fine run, moving up 31 places to a career-best 47th position after scoring 140, his fourth century in 10 Test matches. Abid Ali is up six places to 78th position.
For Zimbabwe, Regis Chakabva has gained two slots to reach 97th position while fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani has progressed 26 slots to reach 55th position with figures of four for 73.
(With ICC inputs)
